Compare towns
Keene vs Newmarket vs Hanover vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Newmarket has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Keene | Newmarket | Hanover | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
9,463Lowest |
11,685 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
41.2±1.9Highest 5% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Newmarket and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Newmarket School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Hanover High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.9Lowest |
10.7 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.